Our 18 year of Expats helping Expats NOVEMBER 12, 2018 ...

1 August 20, 2018 ANNOUNCEMENTS/EVENTS PATTAYA CITY Expats CLUB Our 18th year of Expats helping Expats Click on the Topic in Contents to go direct to the Information AUGUST 20, 2018 Special Announcements Information of special interest to members including Thai Immigration updates Club Announcements The latest announcements of interest to members and Expats living in Thailand Upcoming Club Related & Special Events A list of upcoming Club related and other events of special interest for an overall list of upcoming events in and around Pattaya & Bangkok, see the latest Club Newsletter Excursions Being Organized Members often organize excursions which can be one day tours, overnighters, and sometimes international travel.

2 If any are being planned, they will be listed here. Upcoming Holidays Public Holidays during the next month or two are listed. Main Bank branches and Government Offices including Immigration will be closed. Information of Interest from the Open Forum and Other Sources Information of interest is often announced by fellow Expats at the Open Forum session during the Club s Sunday Meeting. Items of continuing interest are included here until they are incorporated into the appropriate section of the Club s website. Government Holidays - These are the dates that Government Offices and Bank Branch Offices will be closed Source is Bank of Thailand REMINDER: If you are not already a subscriber to the Club s weekly Newsletter, to subscribe go to and select NEWSLETTER from the left-hand column.

3 Enter your email address in the box and click subscribe. You will receive an email so you can confirm you want the newsletter. Once you confirm, you will be in our automated mailing list for receipt of the Newsletter. August 20, 2018 ANNOUNCEMENTS/EVENTS PATTAYA CITY Expats CLUB SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS CHANGES FOR Expats THAT USE BANGKOK BANK NEW YORK TO TRANSFER FUNDS FROM USA TO THEIR THAI BANK ACCOUNT NEED TO KNOW ABOUT We have updated our website to incorporate a link to revisions made by Bangkok Bank for using the US Automated Clearing House (ACH) system to route transfers from US banks to individual s Bangkok Bank Account in Thailand.

4 Click here to visit Bangkok Bank s webpage on the subject. The National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) regulates the use of the ACH system and Bangkok Bank s NY Branch has made the changes to comply with their Operating Rules. These rules require that ACH transfers that transfer funds to a bank outside the USA, must be done by using the International ACH Transfer (IAT) format. This is effective now for anyone wishing to set up a transfer using the ACH system for doing such transfers. The change notes: With effective from April 1, 2019, New York branch only process ACH with appropriate IAT format and all non-IAT transactions will be returned.

5 This alert is to inform those currently set up and transferring funds from their US Bank account to their Bangkok Bank Account in Thailand, that as of April 1, 2019, they also must use the IAT format. Most USA banks DO NOT support sending transfers in the IAT format for their individual customers, although some may do it for their commercial customers. Therefore, it appears that using the Bangkok Bank NY Branch for transferring funds through the ACH system may no longer be available. So you may wish to determine if your bank supports the IAT format through your online banking or seek out alternate methods. It is our understanding there are businesses that provide such services for a fee.

6 If anyone finds and wishes to share information on such services or other means, please let us know email THAI IMMIGRATION NEWS Click Here to read the latest reports we have on what is happening at Thai Immigration in Pattaya (last updated July 12, 2018). A recent announcement on stated that Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration has developed an App for Android phones at will allow for making advance appointments and submitting digital copies of documents for certain services including Extension of Stay (retirement). It is supposed to become active on June 25, 2018. If anyone uses this app, we will appreciate you letting us know your experience.

7 KEEP US INFORMED If you experience something different at Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration office then what we post here and, in the Visa, & Immigration section of the website, let us know so we can keep our information up to date we also appreciate notification if you find the information we provide was what your experienced - you can email your information to Return to CONTENTS August 20, 2018 ANNOUNCEMENTS/EVENTS PATTAYA CITY Expats CLUB Club Announcements REMEMBER, RAFFLE FOR MEMBER'S FREE BREAKFAST BUFFET ON FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH A reminder for members to bring their current membership card in order to participate in the drawing.

8 There will be drawings on the first Sunday of each month; raffle tickets are given out only to current PCEC members. At the end of the meeting, a ticket is drawn for the full breakfast buffet, which can be obtained at the next or subsequent Sunday meeting be sure to see Judith to claim your prize. PCEC MEMBER DISCOUNT FOR HI CLUB MEMBERSHIP AT HOLIDAY INN PCEC members receive a discount when they sign up for the Holiday Inn s HiClub member program. The program normally costs 500 baht but for PCEC members it will cost only 300 baht. This program will still entitle you to a 25% discount at Holiday Inn venues as well as 25% discount on Food and 15% discount on beverages at the Intercontinental Pattaya Resort (formerly the Sheraton) Elements and Infiniti Restaurants.

9 In addition, they will be hosting 2 more parties free during the year for their HiClub members (member guests will be charged 750 baht. INTERESTED IN A SHOPPING TRIP TO IKEA & THE MEGA MALL There is a sign-up list at the Sunday's PCEC Meeting for those interested in sharing the 2,500 baht Van charge for a trip to IKEA and the Mega Mall. The trip will be scheduled when there are enough participants to share the Van charge. For questions, please email Roger Fox at or call him at 084-073-1270. REMINDER FOR SUGGESTIONS OR COMMENTS If you wish to provide a suggestion or comment to the Governing Board, please place it in the suggestion box at the back of the meeting room.)

10 If you wish a response from the Board, please include your email address. You can also send suggestions and comments to: August 20, 2018 ANNOUNCEMENTS/EVENTS PATTAYA CITY Expats CLUB DO YOU KNOW OF A BUSINESS THAT YOU COULD RECOMMEND TO YOUR FELLOW Expats ? Often during the Open Forum portion of the meeting, someone will recommend a particular business such as a handyman, auto mechanic or body shop, air conditioning service, clothing shop (with large sizes to fit our heftier Expats ), computer service, etc. The listing is based on recommendations from fellow Expats and are provided for information purposes only.